Read: Ephesians 1:15-23
Watch: https://bibleproject.com/videos/wisdom-proverbs/
Bridging the 13-Inch Gap
A common phrase I heard growing up is, “The difference between wisdom and knowledge is 13 inches.” For those in the metric world, that’s about 33 centimeters—the rough distance from one’s brain to one’s heart. This phrase vividly illustrates the gap between what a person knows intellectually (head knowledge) versus what they genuinely feel and apply (heart conviction).
During the long days and months of the COVID-19 lockdown, Sharon and I began watching the daily videos from Dean Robert of Canterbury Cathedral. He was, for us, a voice of calm that daily refocused our attention on Christ. One statement in his prayer struck me deeply: “praying with one heart and mind.”
This was, for me, a season of healing. I was so taken by his statement because I realized that for much of my life, I had a divided heart and mind. I held to intellectual thoughts, mental assent, and doctrinal knowledge in my head, yet I simultaneously harbored feelings in my heart that were, at best, questioning that knowledge, and at worst, completely contradictory.
For example, I knew in my mind that God loved me, “for the Bible tells me so.” But in my heart, I believed God could not possibly truly love me because I am such a bad person. How could such polar realities exist in one person? [The answer is brokenness].
This is precisely what Paul is addressing in his prayer for the Ephesian believers. He is not asking them to simply read more; he is asking Father-God to impart to them spiritual wisdom and insight so they may grow in the true knowledge of Him (Ephesians 1:17). In other words, he is asking God to bridge the 13-inch gap—that God would reveal Himself so clearly that His children will possess both spiritual insight and deep personal conviction.
To be a healthy disciple is to possess the reality where your heart and mind are in agreement. It means believing in your heart and mind what God says about you, with no contradictions between your thoughts and beliefs. Being a healthy disciple also means action: putting into practice what you truly believe and know.
This process is a cycle: The more we come into relationship with Jesus, the more we get to know Him. The more we know Him, the more we trust Him. Our knowledge, wisdom, and insight of Jesus grows as we encounter Him more and more. Then our actions change.
For me, much of my healing came as I was able to identify my woundings and invite Jesus into those broken places. This took a lot of time, but Jesus is so patient and kind. More often than not, He just sat there with a gentle, loving smile and compassionate eyes—exactly what I needed.
I want you to know that I am praying this prayer for you! Ever since I first heard of your faith, I have not stopped praying for you (Ephesians 1:16). I pray for the spiritual wisdom and understanding that can only come from God. I pray that you are able to sit down with Jesus, look into His loving face, and ask Him to show you how much He loves you. Ask Him, “Jesus, what do you think of me?”
Pray: Jesus, help me to believe, “I am who you say I am!”
Discussion Questions:
- The final challenge is to look into Jesus’ loving face and ask, “Jesus, what do you think of me?” If you were completely honest, what answer would your unhealed heart currently expect to hear, and how does the biblical truth of Ephesians 1 (adopted, redeemed, sealed) immediately contradict that expectation?
2. The “13-inch gap” is the distance between intellectual knowledge of God (“head knowledge”) and true heart conviction (“heart conviction”).
Where in your life is this gap currently most noticeable (e.g., forgiveness, financial worry, fear of failure), and what practical step can you take this week to invite Jesus into that broken place to bridge the distance?
3. The goal of spiritual wisdom is to live with “one heart and mind” where there are no contradictions between what you know and what you believe about God.
What is one deeply held false assumption about God’s love or your value that you know intellectually is wrong but still affects your decisions and emotions?